Invigorate your teaching with the Plant Science Summer School (30th June - 3rd July 2013).
This course is now fully booked, however further applications will be placed on a waiting list.
This course gives a select group of post-16 biology teachers the opportunity to join a plant science summer school hosted by some of the leading lights in plant science.
The programme aligns with the Gatsby Plants Summer School for biology undergraduates, and shares some of its inspiring practical workshops, contemporary plant science research updates, and discussions on the importance and relevance of plant science.
The summer school takes place in 30th June – 3rd July 2013 near York. You’ll stay in accommodation close to the summer school venue. A generous ENTHUSE Award is available to eligible schools to cover costs and to support the implementation of your professional development.
Inspired by the sessions, you will be supported - during the summer school and afterwards - in producing new teaching and learning resources relevant to current post-16 biology specifications. In time, these will be disseminated via the SAPS website, the ASE annual conference, and the network of Science Learning Centres. The aim is to engage other teachers and students, in line with the mission of the summer school to inspire and motivate future plant scientists. Gatsby, SAPS and the Science Learning Centres value excellent teaching about plants in schools and colleges: this summer school is one way to support and encourage enthusiastic teachers.
You’ll have access to the facilities at the National Science Learning Centre and the National STEM Resource Centre. You will also have the opportunity to become a SAPS Associate. In return, you will be expected to implement an action plan for developing teaching and learning resources inspired by the summer school, to be drafted by November 2013. To help with this, the course includes an online component to extend and embed your CPD, providing you with support when back at school or college, and enabling you to collaborate with others, sharing experiences and resources. You will receive support to enable you to complete your action plan or gap task and you will also be able to access the Science Learning Centres’ online learning community after this period. The online component is an integral part of the course and has been included in the fee and the associated ENTHUSE Award.
Events will include seminars on:
- Plant ID in the field
- Modern microscopy techniques
- Plant pathology techniques
- Developmental genetics
Lectures will include
- Human population change
- Plant cell-cell signalling and development
- Creating more efficient C3 plants using C4 photosynthesis
- Plant -soil interactions
- Circadian rhythm in plants
For more details, and to apply for a place on the Plant Science Summer School please send an email to
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One exciting teaching resource developed from the 2010 Summer School can be seen here. The Summer School inspired Bev Goodger, a teacher from Sir John Deane's College, Cheshire to design a practical investigation looking at transpiration using infra-red thermometers.
Our 'Deadly diseases and plant pathology' resource was developed by teacher Sarah Bayliss after attending the 2011 Summer School.